Gary Gigante: President & Chief Executive Officer
Gary began his career in metallurgy at Waukesha Foundry before joining ThyssenKrupp Waupaca in March of 1981. He started his career at Waupaca as a Metallurgist and served as Plant Manager in Marinette from 1986, until he was promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing in 2002. Gary held the position of President and COO from 2004 until accepting the position of CEO in July of 2007. Gary graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgical Engineering.
Kris Pfaehler: Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Kris Pfaehler joined ThyssenKrupp Waupaca in 2007. Previously, Kris held executive sales and business development positions with Meridian Magnesium, as Vice President, Global Business Development, with STRATTEC Security Corporation as Vice President, Marketing & Sales, and with the Talon Automotive Group, as Vice President, Sales & Business Development. He began his career in 1976 with American Motors. Kris received an undergraduate business degree from the University of Michigan - Dearborn, and an MA degree from Marygrove College in Detroit.
Joey Leonard: Vice President, Human Resources
Joey has been our human resources leader since 2010 but has worked at ThyssenKrupp Waupaca since 1993. He worked his way up from summers in the foundry to positions in operations until he accepted positions of personnel manager and human resources director. Joey holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin—Oshkosh. He served on the American Foundry Society northeast Wisconsin board of directors for eight years and on the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce for six years.
Michael Nikolai: Director of Operations
Michael began his career with ThyssenKrupp Waupaca in 1993 as a metallurgical engineer. He was promoted to the position of Production Manager in Tell City, IN; Plant Manager at the Etowah, TN operation and currently is Director of Operations for all ThyssenKrupp Waupaca plants. Michael graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1992 with a Masters Degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He added an M.B.A from the University of Louisville in 2003. He currently resides in Waupaca, Wisconsin.